Albion Park

The Albion Park Harness Racing Club has celebrated over 40 years
in racing history.

The Albion Park Trotting Club, as it was known then, commenced
racing in September 1968 and it heralded a new era in the industry
in more than one way.

Night trotting had now arrived in Brisbane and the venue was
only a stone's throw from Brisbane's CBD located closely to some of
the city's more affluent suburbs.

The 800 m right-handed track was
positioned inside of the unique sand galloping track and the Albion
Park Trotting Club became a tenant of the Brisbane Amateur Turf
Club which ran thoroughbred racing at Doomben and Albion Park.

This status quo remained until late 1981 when the galloping
venue was closed due to declining popularity among thoroughbred
participants.

At the same time, the Racing Minister Russ Hinze, a harness
racing enthusiast, declared a new complex would be built and
harness racing would "graduate" to a 1000m left-handed track with a
brand spanking new grandstand.

As such, another milestone was established when the complex was
unveiled to a huge crowd in October 1983 and Albion Park was dubbed
"the speed pacing capital of Australia".

The third most significant event to happen to Albion Park
occurred in 2008 when the Russ Hinze Grandstand was closed due to
safety reasons.